A few days later, in the evening, Leon, Rossweise, and Muwen stood in front of the temple. They were just like a few days ago with Noah, looking up at the sky at a forty five degree angle. They seemed to be waiting for something.
"Does the academy really provide transportation back home?" Leon asked, still looking at the sky.
"Yes, they have always been very considerate in their services," Rossweise said.
"So, how will they bring Noah back? Magical teleportation or…"
Rossweise raised her hand to shield her eyes. She squinted at a small dark spot in the distance. "No, it is not that advanced. They will bring the child back the same way we sent her over. Look, it is almost here."
Leon looked where Rossweise pointed. A small dark spot in the sky was slowly getting closer. However, a few minutes later, Leon widened his eyes in shock.
What was that small dark spot? When he looked closer, it was a dragon of a huge and exaggerated size!
Leon made a rough guess. This dragon was at least five times bigger than Rossweise in her dragon form.
In his whole dragon slaying career, he had never seen a dragon this enormous.
"The Leviathan Dragon, the largest type of dragon. Even with its massive size, it is not very strong in a fight. It works as a transport for the dragon community. It has great endurance and, very importantly, stable emotions," Rossweise explained.
"Eh? Why mention the stable emotions?" Leon asked.
"Imagine this, one hundred and eighty lively and playful dragon hatchlings sitting on your back. They are chattering without stop, running around and causing a commotion. Would you be able to keep your composure?" Rossweise replied.
Leon swallowed nervously. "I would not…"
"That is right. But the Leviathans will. Their emotional control is very good. It is said that a Leviathan, from birth to death over thousands of years, will not even throw one tantrum," Rossweise explained.
Leon could not help but be impressed.
Who would have thought there was such a relaxed type among the naturally fierce dragon species?
It gave a feeling of "whatever happens, happens."
The Leviathan dragon came closer slowly. It finally stopped hovering above the Silver Dragon Temple. Because it was so enormous, landing was not possible.
A magical pillar of light shimmered around the Leviathan. It connected the dragon to the ground. After everyone saw Noah land safely, the Leviathan pulled back the magical pillar. Its huge body began to rise. Finally, it flapped its giant dragon wings and slowly flew away from the Silver Dragon Temple.
The flapping of its wings caused a strong wind. When the wind calmed down, Muwen eagerly ran to Noah.
"Sister!"
The little dragon girl opened her arms and immediately jumped into her sister's hug. Then she rubbed her face against Noah's lovingly.
Noah pinched the silly tuft of hair on her sister's head and asked with a smile, "Did you miss me?"
"Missed you a lot! Did big sister miss Muwen?"
"Of course I did!"
"Yeah!"
The two little dragon sisters walked to Leon and Rossweise, hand in hand, their tails linked together.
Noah gave a small nod to Rossweise and said, "I am back, Mom."
"Welcome home, Noah."
Then she looked at Leon. "I am back—"
Her mouth was already making the start of a "D" sound for 'Dad'.
But she still hesitated with that word. Seeing her struggle, Leon quickly stepped in to help. "It is good that you are back. Come on, let us eat. Your mom and I made a lot of your favourite food."
"Okay."
The family of four went back into the house. They sat around the table for a meal they had all been waiting for. Noah still instinctively started to cut the steak for her sister and put vegetables on her plate.
But Muwen grabbed her wrist. Before Noah knew what was happening, Muwen, in a clumsy but very earnest way, started to cut the steak for herself.
Then, Muwen pushed all the delicious dishes on the table closer to Noah.
"Sister, eat quickly. Mom and Dad said you have been working hard at school, so you should eat more," Muwen said.
"All right, thank you!"
It was true. The right amount of independence could help a person grow. Well, even if her sister's growth was just for now, it was still a big step forward.
The family ate, talked, and laughed together. At that moment, it seemed no one cared if the warmth was completely real or a little acted. But no matter what, right then, they were a happy and content family.
As dinner was almost finished, Noah took several report cards from her bag. She placed them on the table one by one.
"Alchemy and Mechanical Basics, first place," she announced.
"Introduction to Magic, Dragon Edition, first place."
"Dragon History, Dragonlings Upper Level, first place."
"All around Physical Fitness Test, third place."
Noah pushed the last report card to the middle of the table. She looked very tense. She said, "Sorry, Mom. I only got third place in the last subject."
Rossweise did not even look at the report cards. She spoke to Noah, "No need to say sorry, Noah. Third place is already very impressive."
"Yeah, sis, Mom is right! In Muwen's heart, you are the best!" Muwen added.
Even with their comforting words, Noah's mood did not seem to lift.
Leon looked at his eldest daughter, then at Rossweise and Muwen.
One of these two was not good at showing feelings, and the other showed too much. What Noah really needed was not coming from them.
Sigh!
It looked like the old father had to step in. Leon took the report card, looked at it briefly, and said, "Oh, this is all about physical training, right? Running, push ups, pull ups…"
Noah pressed her lips together and answered quietly, "Yeah."
"You started school very early, Noah. The other dragonlings in your grade are at least four or five years old. They are taller than you by a whole head."
Leon talked seriously with Noah. "You got a high score in practical combat training, right? You fought ten opponents and won against nine of them. That is the highest win rate in the whole class. What does that tell us? It tells us that my eldest daughter might not be as strong as those little brats, but she is far better in strategy and fighting skill."
Leon put the report card down. "So, you do not need to worry too much about this third place. You have already done your very best with what you have, and that is more than enough. Many grown adults cannot give their all like you do."
After Leon's careful explanation, Noah's face finally relaxed a little.
She hesitated and said, "But I heard Mom say that when you were in school, you were first in every subject."
When Leon heard this, he could not help but feel a surge of pride. It sounded like Noah saw him as a role model.
The old father was thrilled!
But now was not the time for boasting.
"Actually, when I first started school, I was not first in every subject either. It was through hard work later that I moved up, step by step. So, Noah, falling behind is not forever. Do not let a small failure make you feel down, okay?"
"Okay, I understand," Noah replied very seriously.
Leon believed that Noah truly meant what she said. Her personality was not one for lying. If she said she understood, then she really did.
Seeing her sister's mood get better, Muwen came closer. She grabbed Noah's wrist and asked curiously, "Sister, sister, what is practical combat training?"
"It is one on one fighting between two people. They spar until one person gives up or gets pushed out of the ring."
"Oh, I see. Sister, winning against nine people is really amazing."
Muwen was also impressed by Leon's story. Her eyes were wide with admiration. "Wow, Daddy is amazing! Dad is so powerful. So if he fights with Mom, who will win?"
Both Leon and Rossweise answered at the exact same time.
"ME!"
"HUH!?"
Leon said smugly, "In my actual combat training back then, for hand to hand combat or weapons and magic, no one could beat me. Of course, I am better."
"Although I did not win as many honors at the academy as you, I only win the most important games," Rossweise replied.
"Wasn't it because you never beat me that you married me?" Leon teased.
"It was because you failed to beat me that we have two lovely daughters, Muwen and Noah," Rossweise countered, a sly look in her eye.
Rossweise squinted her eyes. "What is the matter, Leon? It has been two years since we married, and you still want to spar?"
"I have been wanting to for a long time."
The two of them were in a standoff. It seemed like sparks were about to fly as they stared each other down.
"Are they going to fight? Let's go, let's go Big sis!" Muwen whispered, tugging Noah's sleeve excitedly.